Ignition Adapter Apparatus

ABSTRACT

An ignition adapter apparatus for use in rapidly charging a muzzleloader while preventing gas leakage. The ignition adapter apparatus preferably defines a primer carrier device shaped such that the outer surface thereof conforms to a standard ammunition cartridge. The ignition adapter apparatus further includes breech plug adapted to fit into the breech end of a muzzle loader. The primer carrier is preferably constructed of a metal that is softer than the breech plug. When the primer carrier device is pressed into the breech plug, the primer carrier deforms such that a seal is formed between the primer carrier device and the breech plug. Using such ignition adapter apparatus in a muzzleloader reduces or eliminates no blow-by resulting in a more powerful shot and a cleaner firing mechanism. The primer carrier device may be magazine fed for rapid re-priming.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to ignition adapters, and more especially to ignition adapters for use in muzzle loading firearms so as to provide for rapid charging and minimal gas leakage or blow-by.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A muzzle loading firearm or so called “muzzleloader” (see Appx A) is a type of firearm typically characterized by the loading the propellant and projectile for the firearm into the muzzle of the firearm. Muzzleloaders have existed for hundreds of years. However, although more so-called modern firearms which typically use cartridge ammunition (i.e. an assembly defining a casing having a primer pressed into a first end, a bullet pressed into a second end, and containing propellant therein—see Appx B and Appx C), have largely eclipsed the widespread use of muzzleloaders, muzzleloaders still enjoy a considerable popularity from various shooting competitions and certain “muzzleloader only” hunting events. Moreover, various technical improvements to muzzleloaders have occurred in recent years. Examples of such muzzleloader related technology is disclosed in the following US patents, all of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference: U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,511,334, 5,642,583, 5,706,598, 6,385,887, 6,865,838, 8,011,128, 8,079,167, and 9,329,003.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is an ignition adapter apparatus for use in rapidly charging a muzzleloader and for use in preventing gas leakage or so-called blow-by in the muzzleloader. The ignition adapter apparatus preferably defines a primer carrier device comprising a primer carrier having a primer (see Appx D and Appx E) pressed therein and preferably shaped such that the outer surface thereof conforms to or, but for a flash channel opening, is substantially geometrically identical to a standard ammunition cartridge. The ignition adapter apparatus further includes breech plug adapted to fit into the breech end of a muzzle loader. The primer carrier is preferably constructed of a metal that is softer than the metal from which the breech plug is constructed. In practice, when the primer carrier device is pressed into the breech plug, the primer carrier deforms a small amount such that a seal is formed between the primer carrier device and the breech plug. When a muzzleloader has such breech plug and primer carrier device inserted therein and is loaded with propellant and a projectile (bullet), striking the primer with a firing pin of a bolt causes the muzzleloader to fire the bullet with minimal or no blow-by, thus resulting in a more powerful shot and a cleaner firing mechanism. Further, because the primer carrier device is shaped like a standard ammunition cartridge which is designed to facilitate smooth feeding from a magazine or like storage device (detachable from the firearm or otherwise), the primer carrier device may be magazine (see Appx F) fed into the breech plug as the firearm action is cycled resulting in the muzzleloader being re-primed much more quickly than it would be otherwise.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

In order that the advantages of the invention will be readily understood, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments that are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded isometric view of a first embodiment of the ignition adapter apparatus;

FIG. 2 is an exploded orthographic sectional view of a first embodiment of the ignition adapter apparatus taken substantially along a mid-plane of the apparatus;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the breech plug shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the barrel portion shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the primer carrier shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the primer carrier device;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged assembled orthographic sectional view of a first embodiment of the ignition adapter apparatus taken substantially along a mid-plane of the apparatus, and;

FIG. 8 is side quasi-sectional view similar to FIG. 1 of U.S. Pat. No. 6,865,838 except that FIG. 8 has been adapted to depict the magazine feeding of the primer carrier device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment.

Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the following description, numerous specific details are included to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, and so forth. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the invention.

In order to facilitate the understanding of the present invention in reviewing the drawings accompanying the specification, a feature table is provided below. It is noted that like features are like numbered throughout all of the figures.

FEATURE TABLE # Feature # Feature 10 Ignition adapter apparatus 20 Breech plug 22 Breech plug outer diameter surface 23 Breech plug outer diameter threads 24 Breech plug distal end 26 Breech plug inner cavity 28 Breech plug radiused mouth 30 Breech plug inner diameter surface 32 Breech plug hex socket 33 Breech plug inner diameter relief 34 Breech plug seal corner 36 Breech plug reduced inner diameter surface 37 Breech plug conical flash channel mouth 38 Breech plug flash channel 39 Breech plug flash port 40 Primer carrier device 50 Primer carrier 52 Primer carrier outer diameter surface 54 Primer carrier outer tapered surface 56 Primer carrier rounded nose 58 Primer carrier primer pocket 60 Primer carrier flash channel mouth 62 Primer carrier flash channel 64 Primer carrier flash port 66 Primer carrier root 68 Primer carrier flange 70 Primer 80 Barrel portion 81 Barrel tenon 82 Barrel outer diameter surface 84 Barrel tenon external threads 86 Barrel breech end 88 Barrel breech end shoulder 90 Barrel tenon internal threads 92 Barrel plug interface surface 94 Barrel plug interface shoulder 96 Barrel inner diameter surface 98 Barrel inner cavity 100 Bolt 102 Bolt extractor 104 Bolt extractor claw 112 Primary seal 114 Secondary seal 116 magazine

Referring now to the drawings, a first embodiment of the invention is an ignition adaptor apparatus 10 for use in providing improved sealing, power, and repeatability, cleaner firing, and magazine loading for more rapid reloading of a muzzleloader comprising a breech plug 20, a primer carrier device 40, and a barrel portion 80. Primer carrier device 40 comprises primer carrier 50 and primer 70 press fit into primer carrier 50.

Breech plug 20 preferably defines a generally hollow cylindrical breech plug having an outer diameter surface 22, outer diameter threads 23, a distal end 24, an inner cavity 26, a radiused mouth 28, an inner diameter surface 30, a hex socket 32, a contoured inner diameter relief, a seal corner 34, a reduced inner diameter surface 36, a conical flash channel mouth 37, a flash channel 38, and a flash port 39. Seal corner 34 may optional be radiused—such as with a radius of 0.010 inches to 0.050 inches—or chamfered—such as with a chamfer of approximately 30 degrees (from the centerline axis of breech plug 20) by 0.015 inches to 0.025 inches long. Breech plug 20 is preferably constructed from a durable metal such as high carbon steel or stainless steel.

Primer carrier 50 preferably defines a generally hollow cylindrical primer carrier having an outer diameter surface 52, outer tapered surface 54, a rounded nose 56, a primer pocket 58, a flash channel mouth 60, a flash channel 62, a flash port 64, a root 66, and a flange 68. Primer carrier 50 is preferably constructed from a durable metal that is preferably softer than the material used to construct breech plug 20, such as brass. Primer carrier 50 is preferably shaped such that the outer surface thereof conforms to or, but for flash port 64, is substantially geometrically identical to a standard ammunition cartridge, and more preferably, but for flash port 64, is substantially geometrically identical to a Remington .223 cartridge (see Appx B and Appx C).

Primer 70 preferably defines a standard off-the-shelf primer such as may be commercially available for centerfire cartridges (see Appx D and Appx E).

Barrel portion 80 preferably defines a generally hollow cylindrical barrel portion having a tenon 81, an outer diameter surface 82, tenon external threads 84, a breech end 86, a breech end shoulder 88, tenon external threads 90, a plug interface surface 92, a plug interface shoulder 94, an inner diameter surface 96, and an inner cavity 98. Barrel portion 80 is preferably constructed from a durable metal such as high carbon steel or stainless steel.

The muzzleloader in which ignition adaptor apparatus 10 is to be mounted and used further includes a bolt 100 having an extractor 102, and an extractor claw 104. Bolt 100 is preferably constructed from a durable metal such as high carbon steel or stainless steel.

Primer carrier device 40 is assembled such that primer 70 is press-fit into primer pocket 58 of primer carrier 50.

Ignition adaptor apparatus 10 is assembled such that with barrel portion 80 affixed to muzzleloader, breech plug 20 is inserted into barrel portion 80 such that outer diameter 22 of breech plug 20 is in a “running sliding” or near net fit with interface surface 92 of barrel portion 80. Breech plug 20 is preferable threadingly attached to barrel portion 80 via hex socket 32 such distal end 24 of breech plug 20 is seated into interface shoulder 94 of barrel portion 80. Ignition adaptor apparatus 10 is further assembled such that primer carrier device 40 is inserted into inner cavity 26 of breech plug 20 such that outer tapered surface 54 of primer carrier 50 comes into slight deformation contact with seal corner 34 to form primary seal 112. It is noted that with primer carrier device 40 thus inserted, outer diameter surface 52 of primer carrier 50 is in a “running sliding” or near net fit with inner diameter surface 30 of breech plug 20 such that secondary seal 114 is formed. It is further noted that contoured inner diameter relief 33 facilitates easy insertion and removal of primer carrier device 40 from breech plug 20.

With ignition adaptor apparatus 10 thus assembled, preferably granulated propellant is placed in inner cavity 98 of barrel portion 80 with a preferably lead bullet press fit into inner cavity 98 of barrel portion 80 in front of (closer towards the muzzle) the granulated propellant. It is noted that flash port 39 and the granulated propellant are sized and selected such that flash port 39 is smaller than a granule of the granulated propellant such that the granulated propellant is prevented from falling or flowing through flash channel 38 of breech plug 20.

In practice, the bolt 100 of a muzzleloader fitted with ignition adaptor apparatus 10 is pressed against primer carrier device 40 so as to secure primer carrier device 40. With adaptor apparatus 10 thus assembled, when a trigger of the muzzleloader is pulled, a firing pin is cause to strike primer 70. Such striking of primer 70 causes primer 70 to fire and to cause a pressurized flash to travel through flash channel mouth 60, down flash channel 62, through flash port 64, through flash channel mouth 37, flash channel 38, and out of flash port 39. The emission of a flash from flash port 39 causes the granulated propellant to ignite and rapidly burn such that a high pressure is generated inner cavity 98, and such that the bullet is forcibly propelled out of barrel portion 80.

After firing the muzzleloader, claw 104 of extractor 102 of bolt 100 is engaged root 66 and an extraction load is applied to flange 68 by claw 104 such that primer carrier device 40 is extracted from breech plug 80. The muzzleloader may then be reloaded with a fresh primer carrier device 40

Because primer carrier device 40 is shaped substantially to an ammunition cartridge, reloading of primer carrier device 40 is readily and swiftly accomplished via magazine loading as shown in FIG. 8.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A primer carrier device for use in a muzzleloader comprising a primer carrier and a primer press fit thereto, wherein but for a flash port formed in said primer carrier, the outer surface of said primer carrier device is substantially geometrically identical to a commercial ammunition cartridge.
 2. The primer carrier device of claim 1, wherein said commercial ammunition cartridge defines a .223 Remington ammunition cartridge.
 3. The primer carrier device of claim 1, wherein said primer carrier device is mounted into a breech plug such that a seal is created by an external surface of said primer carrier device coming into deformation contact with said breech plug.
 4. The primer carrier device of claim 3, wherein said primer carrier is formed of a material that is softer than the material of which said breech plug is formed.
 5. The primer carrier device of claim 3, wherein when said primer is deployed, blow-by is substantially eliminated.
 6. The primer carrier device of claim 1, wherein said primer carrier device is magazine fed into a muzzleloader.
 7. The primer carrier device of claim 3, wherein a running sliding fit exists between said primer carrier device and said breech plug, and wherein said running sliding fit forms a secondary seal.
 8. An ignition adaptor apparatus for use in a muzzleloader comprising a primer carrier having a primer press fit thereto and mounted into a breech plug such that a seal is created by an external surface of said primer carrier coming into deformation contact with said breech plug.
 9. The ignition adaptor apparatus of claim 8, wherein but for a flash port formed in said primer carrier, the outer surface of said primer carrier is substantially geometrically identical to a commercial ammunition cartridge.
 10. The ignition adaptor apparatus of claim 8, wherein said commercial ammunition cartridge defines a .223 Remington ammunition cartridge.
 11. The ignition adaptor apparatus of claim 8, wherein said primer carrier is formed of a material that is softer than the material of which said breech plug is formed.
 12. The ignition adaptor apparatus of claim 8, wherein when said primer is deployed, blow-by is substantially eliminated.
 13. The ignition adaptor apparatus of claim 8, wherein said primer carrier is magazine fed into a muzzleloader.
 14. The ignition adaptor apparatus of claim 8, wherein a running sliding fit exists between said primer carrier and said breech plug, and wherein said running sliding fit forms a secondary seal.
 15. A primer carrier device for use in a muzzleloader comprising a primer carrier and a primer press fit thereto, wherein said primer carrier is magazine fed into a muzzleloader.
 16. The primer carrier device of claim 15, wherein but for a flash port formed in said primer carrier, the outer surface of said primer carrier device is substantially geometrically identical to a .223 Remington ammunition cartridge.
 17. The primer carrier device of claim 15, wherein said magazine feeding further defines mounting said primer carrier device into a breech plug such that a seal is created by an external surface of said primer carrier coming into deformation contact with surface of said breech plug.
 18. The primer carrier device of claim 17, wherein said primer carrier is formed of a material that is softer than the material of which said breech plug is formed.
 19. The primer carrier device of claim 15, wherein when said primer is deployed, blow-by is substantially eliminated.
 20. The primer carrier device of claim 17, wherein a running sliding fit exists between said primer carrier device and said breech plug, and wherein said running sliding fit forms a secondary seal. 